Activists have began a campaign to stop the Yulin Dog Meat Festival. But why is it so controversial? Here’s The Independent’sexplainer.
What is it?
The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, commonly referred to as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival is an annual event where an estimated 10,000 – 15,000 dogs and cats are slaughtered for their meat.
When and where does it happen?
It takes place on June 20 in the city of Yulin, situated in the largely rural and poor Guangxi Zhuang region of China.
How did it start?
The festival began in 2010 to celebrate summer solstice. Advocates and restaurant owners say that eating dog is traditional in the summertime. Around 10-20 million dogs are killed for their meat each year in China.
Chinese dog meat festival: Woman who saved 500 dogs from slaughter
However, critics argue there is no cultural value in the festival and it was mainly devised as a way of making money.
Why are people angry?
While slaughtering dogs is common in China, the festival is seen as representative of the cruelty and lack of hygiene associated with the largely unregulated industry.
In addition, many of the animals killed are stolen pets some of which have been seen still wearing their collars.
Some are sent to the festival in small cages without food or water on trucks that can travel hundreds of miles.
[“source-Independent”]
